Dublin to USA Final Thoughts 17

Ireland 2019 was a smashing success!  Touring a country for 17 days sure gives you a little glimpse of what it has to offer.  The Irish were extremely nice and accommodating.  Our travel group of Margaux, Andrew, Katherine, and myself worked together nearly flawlessly and smooth.  Sometimes decisions are difficult to make in a group, but we had patience and had a common goal; FUN!

Check out the Google Map below of our route.

IMPORTANT G MAN THOUGHTS

• TRASH - Ireland is a super clean country.  I noticed very little litter anywhere. Graffiti was seen around the cities of Dublin and Galway, but that was expected.  The little villages were impeccable.

• OLD PEOPLE - Many places, we saw older people walking, gardening, driving, and moving about.  Not only tourists, but the local population seemed to be quite old.  From the demographic stats I read, it doesn't seem that there are more old people in the country, but we just happened to see more of them.  Maybe just a coincidence?

• NEW CARS - Everywhere we looked were new cars.  Most cars were 3 years old or newer.  I am not sure how this could be, but everything was shiny and new. 

• ROCK FENCES - This is one of the many beauties throughout the country.  Keep them!

• LEPRECHAUNS AND FAIRIES - We didn't see them, but knew they were there.  Another trip might pay off in the future to witness them first hand.

• NEWGRANGE - This place was really cool.  Andrew gave us the idea to go see the site.  This is a must.

• MUSSELS - This is a real treat.  Try them!

NEXT TIME

(We will be back, and when we go, these are some things I would like to do that maybe we missed.)

• GOLF - There are too many beautiful courses not to try. 

• HIKE MORE - The surrounding mountains are big and beautiful.  Getting to the top of some will take planning.

• MORE MUSIC - We only heard a few groups play, but I think with more planning, you could see a live group every night, or every other night.

• DUBLIN HISTORY MUSEUM - After seeing so much of the country and hearing about the artifacts found, I would really like to see them up close in the museum in Dublin.

• SPEAK MORE IRISH - The Gaelic language is beautiful and I think time spent learning how to say a few things would be beneficial and well worth the effort.

• HIT THE NORTH - I know we only scratched the surface of the south, but getting up higher in latitude would be a real treat. 

• TAX RECEIPTS - The Irish have a cool way to get your VAT back when you depart the country.  You get a little card that you register online with your own credit card.  When you buy something, the shop adds the VAT tax info to the card, and when you are at the airport, you just run the card and it puts the money back on your credit card.  If you plan on getting lots of items, it's a must.

WHAT WE WOULD HAVE CHANGED

• Review our packing list.  We had laundry facilities and could have brought even less.

• Stayed a day longer in places like Killarney and Galway

• Brought binoculars

• Come to Ireland many years ago.  We can't wait to get back!

Galway to Dublin 16

Leaving Galway was tough on us.  We only briefly walked through the city and could only do so much.  The weather was perfect and the city gave off such a warm feeling.   We ate a good breakfast and then cleaned the apartment a bit.  When you rent the Airbnbs it's a good idea to leave the place in good shape.  We write reviews about them, but they also write reviews about us.  It would stink to be on the blacklist and not be able to rent whatever house or apartment you want.

Remember that construction site we mentioned yesterday in the view from the porch?  Well, since it was Monday, the workers got to work nice and early.  We were awakened by industrial jack hammers ripping an old foundation apart at 7:30AM.  There is nothing like hearing the cacophony of a 100+ year old foundation being dismantled and hauled off.  We were so happy that Saturday and Sunday were peaceful.  

Katherine doing the final "load up."

 The morning sunlight making its way into the apartment. 

Driving from the far west coast in Galway to the far east coast in Dublin only takes two hours and fifteen minutes.  So, we decided to stop in the city of Athlone.  I know Athlone by a folk dance we teach our students at school.  The song is The Bridge of Athlone and I needed to see the bridge in person.  It's about halfway to Dublin which makes it a great place to stop for lunch.  We also found out that in the center is a pub named Sean's Bar.  The Guinness Book of World Records lists it as the oldest bar/pub in the world dating back to the 900's!

Parking was a little fun as well.  The town center was full of cars and we directed ourselves to a lot nearby.  We parked in the underground deck that had a mall just above it.  While walking out, our GPS signals were distracted and not making good contact.  I was staring at mine trying to get another app to work.  Just then, a local man stopped to see if I needed help.  I told him I was good and we had things together.  He pleasantly just asked where we were going and I said, "We wanted to see the beautiful bridge."  He then directed us how to get there on a walking path and wished us a great day.  How nice!

The Bridge of Athlone with St. Peter and St. Pauls church on the right.

We stopped to feel the magical powers of the bridge.

The church with Athlone Castle on the right from around the year 1210.

We found it!  Sean's Bar from around the year 900.  They had portions of the original wall on the inside on display, but the coins that were found buried in the construction are on display in a Dublin museum.   Talk about ancient!

We had a quick sip in Sean's Bar with a total history lesson by the manager.  He had been to Tampa and is coming back in a few months to talk to distributers about getting his whiskey to the USA.  He told us that the city of Athlone is where whiskey originally came from, with 8 years of research by the historical foundation to back up the story.  They had even traced the dissemination of the drink to Scotland and Newfoundland and then everywhere.  Wowza!

From there, we walked back to the parking garage, loaded up, and drove out on the way to Dublin.  I needed all navigators on deck.  We made it this far without damaging the Stonic, so we need to stay focused.

Katherine got rooms for us at one of the Dublin Airport hotels.  They cost a little more, but are really close to the terminals, making the international departure a little less stressful.  We did not want to miss the flight the next day.

Complete with mini balcony

We had a reasonable dinner at the hotel's restaurant and chatted about how great the trip was.  Tomorrow, we will have a hotel breakfast, return the rental car, and depart.  Andrew, Katherine, and I will head back to Las Vegas, and Margaux will fly to England to visit a friend for a couple days.

Margaux got upgraded to a suite all to herself.  It was complete with a secondary key card swipe, king bed, huge bathroom, and sitting area.  Party time!

Galway 15

An entire day in Galway.  Yes!  We slept in for a bit and watch some "Friends" episodes on an Irish channel that only plays Friends.  I had to do a double take when Andrew told me that was really a station.  After that mess of a morning, we loaded our packs and headed out.

Me, Andrew, and Margaux in Eyre Square

Andrew enjoying Shop Street

We found out that Galway is a super popular tourist place.  The streets were littered with visitors and the weather was perfect.  It was equally fun watching people as it was looking at the buildings and shopping.  I had a few things to pick up and was on the hunt for some instruments.  We went into a tourist shop and grabbed some small stuff and then pressed on.

The first music shop we found was closed, but Opus II was open and had the coolest stuff.  I was looking to get a better Irish whistle or a bodhrán, an Irish frame drum. This music shop had them both, so I looked at what they had and couldn't decide just yet.  So, we had lunch at a place nearby while I thought it over.

Mussels and Chicken Kofta

Our lunch location was recommended by the Airbnb apartment owner, and was a great choice.  No joke, it was right across the street from the music shop.  We had mussels and chicken kofta which was all delectable.   After lunch, we headed back to the music shop.

After talking with the very nice woman in the store, I was sold on the drum and whistle.  She showed me a few ways to play the bodhrán and got me all set up.  This will surely take some time to play, but I am ready for the challenge!

My new bodhrán!

and my whistle.

We then went back to the apartment and chilled for a bit before heading out on a short walk.  We wanted to see the Spanish Arch and Caoc Arch that remain from the cities front wall from the 1500's, and see the sunset before dinner. Tons of people were chilling out by the river and the sun was doing it's thing.

Spanish Arch and Caoc Arch Built in 1584

Dinner was prepared back at our place with a view overlooking the Galway harbor.  We listened to Andrew's Irish Road Mix and enjoyed our last evening on the west coast or Ireland.  Tomorrow we head back through Athlone to Dublin.

The crew basking in the sunset on the River Corrib.

Tomorrow we head down the "Rocky Road to Dublin."  We are so sad to realize our trip is almost over.

Inishmore to Galway 14

Leaving Inishmore was definitely a bittersweet departure.  It was so peaceful and full of splendor.  Our accommodation was cozy and well furnished. We took our time packing gear and walked down to the ferry terminal.  Our ferry was set to leave at 11:30am, so this was not a problem.  The weather was a little hostile, with the wind kicking up with a bit of rain.  But in the distance, we saw that the sun was out, as it often is in Ireland.  After a few minutes, it was back to a beautiful sunny day.

Our kitchen.

This place was hooked up with a nice TV and decent Wi-Fi.

The ferry ride back was about an hour and a half long, which provided a chance to just sit back and relax.  The swells were gently rocking the small ferry and made us a little sleepy.  You could see the rock fences, stone, and pasture areas clearly from the ocean.

Me checking out the bow area of the boat.

Coming into the Doolin port

Andrew enjoying the view.

Once we arrived back at the terminal in Doolin, we had to get some grub before we headed to Galway.  And I must say, we needed to go "All the Way to Galway" as the famous song suggests.  I kept making the blatant reference and any moment I could annoying the group as much as possible. 

Already knowing the pubs in Doolin, we decided to eat at McGann's.  We had not eaten there yet, and we wanted to stay away from the bus traffic.  There were no busses out front, so we thought we were in the clear.  There ended up being a tour bus group inside, but the server found us a quiet table in the back of the pub.  Since we are on our own schedule, we were not in a rush and just took our time.  It was seafood chowder and Guinness time.  Yes, please!

This essay below does a great job capturing the essence of the Irish Pub scene.   I found it so interesting... I had to take out my "snapper" and snap a picture.   It's worth the read. 

Arriving in Galway was a little bit of a chore.  Galway is a big city and quite hectic.  We had to find our parking garage and navigate without danger or attracting the Garda, the local police.  Our place had an interesting underground parking garage like the Dublin apartment.  The apartment had gate codes and door codes.  We had a little trouble using the final keypad to let us in the apartment which made for some fun.  Once we figured it out, we got in and saw our beautiful place, rested for a bit, and headed out for GREYHOUND DOG RACING!!!!

The Galway Greyhound Track

Andrew and Katherine previously secured a reserved table right at the finish line with a three course meal for all of us.  I had only seen greyhound racing live once in my life at the Ebro track in Florida.  It was very similar but in an Irish way.  You know.... as we entered, there was a group of men about to fight and tear each other apart.  No punches were thrown, but there were some choice words used and expressions I never heard before.  They seemed to calm down and the night progressed just fine.

Before each race, the dog trainers walk out the pups for inspection.

The track food was quite tasty.  Margaux and Andrew really enjoyed it.

Lucky table 21

We walked back to the apartment after the races cruising through a crowded section.  It was the "party" road in Galway and the younger people came out of the woodwork in full force.  For us, it was time to rest up and chill at the apartment.  We had a beautiful view of the Galway docks and the construction site across the road.  And if you looked closely, you could see the light poles from the dog track.

The view from the balcony.  Off in the distance, you can see Burren National Park.

Me and Andrew chilling out. 

The front room was quite nice and had access to the balcony.

Ahhhh, the kitchen.  To access the vent hood, you pull out the door above the stove at an angle.  Inside, there is a vent fan that has a real exhaust taking the fumes outside.  We also had TWO French presses and readied them for coffee the next morning.

Tomorrow, we plan to walk through the tourist areas of Galway.  We plan to see Eyre Square, Shop Street, and the Spanish Arch.  We also need to finish up with purchasing any souvenirs or gifts since our trip is coming to an end.  In particular, I am looking for a music shop and a good whiskey shop.

Inishmore 13

It rained a bit through the night and the next morning we readied ourselves for a long bike ride.  Katherine and Andrew made some serious breakfast sandwiches.  The apartment was pretty well stocked in the kitchen, so cooking was nice and easy.  We picked up groceries yesterday at the local Spar market to supplement what was already there.

Margaux and Katherine ready to roll.

We mounted the bikes and headed along the "low road" which traverses the island.  This was the same trail as yesterday, but we were going farther; all the way to Dun Aengus. We stopped at the seal colony once again, and saw quite a few of them popping up from the water to smile at us.  On the return trip we wanted to take the "high road" though houses and hopefully get a nice view of the ocean.

I noticed this pheasant along the way.

Margaux taking in the cool morning breeze.  The water was super clear and we could see the seaweed and rocks very easily.

The ferries from the mainland arrive around 11am, so getting to the site early was important to us.  We did just fine.  Once we arrived, there were only a few others milling about.  Hiking up to the ancient site was a pleasure with the chilly air and beautiful views.  Once again, we were surrounded by rock wall fences in every direction. 

We locked the bikes not knowing who would arrive later and mess with them.

The ancient fort of Dun Aengus.  

This is an aerial shot taken from the Red Bull cliff diving page.  Link Here

We arrived at the top to terrific views across the sea.  Somehow, the clouds were nonexistent which was a change for us.

Margaux channeling the ancient power of the sea and rock.

Me inside the fort.

The fort walls are still intact 5,200 years later!

We kept running into this traveler.  We never got his name, but he was a retired teacher very interested in the sites just like us. 

Kleine Maus even made an appearance.

After touring the site, we walked back down and poked around in the shops down below.  We talked to the lady in the jewelry shop for a bit about Gaelic pronunciations.  She was a comical local that also found humor messing around with us as well. After making a few purchases, we headed to the Wormhole. 

Descending from the  fort.

Andrew mounted his trusty steed.

The Wormhole is an interesting geological formation at the sea where the locals do massive cliff diving.  It became so popular that Red Bull cliff diving is now held here.  Not only was the natural rectangular pool impressive, but the surrounding rocks seemed like they were from another planet.

The hike out to the Wormhole.  It was longer than expected, but well worth the time spent admiring the trail.

Super overhanging rock everywhere.

It rained the night before filling the ground pools with fresh water.

I had no idea the Wormhole was going to be so impressive.  It looks like the rectangular pool was man made somehow, but it's not. The lime stone shears off in perfect right angles and lines.  How weird!

A panoramic shot of the area. 

This is from the Red Bull site.

https://www.redbull.com/ie-en/locals-guide-to-inis-mor-red-bull-cliff-diving

After the bike ride, we had a marvelous lunch at Joe Watty's pub.  There was plenty of bike parking out front.

Oysters!

We went home and rested for a little bit after returning the bikes.  After eating dinner at our apartment, we walked back to Joe Watty's for the awesome music that would be happening at about 7pm. 

Guys we met later in the evening.  Funny guys for sure.

James, Me, Killian, and Andrew

Tomorrow we have to leave this beautiful island and head to Galway.  I could spend a lot more time out here on Inis Mor for sure.